New group to promote Atlantic Canada golf industry

A new group has been formed to create a co-operative approach to marketing golf in the region.

The Atlantic Golf Organization Inc. has been created with representatives from the four non-profit golf marketing bodies in the Atlantic Provinces - Golf Prince Edward Island, Golf Nova Scotia, New Brunswick Golf, and Golf Newfoundland and Labrador. The group's main goal is to promote and market the golf product in Atlantic Canada and, at the same time, increase overall awareness of the region.

"Our government is pleased to partner with the Atlantic Golf Organization Inc. to attract new golf enthusiasts to Atlantic Canada and continue to promote economic growth throughout the region," said ACOA Minister Keith Ashfield. "Our investment of more than $145,000 through ACOA's Business Development Program (BDP) will help Atlantic Golf Organization build an
effective marketing and promotional presence for Atlantic Canada's golf product, especially in the Atlantic regional of the United States."

"We know Atlantic Canada is a premiere golf destination," said Greg Hillier, director of Atlantic Golf Organization Inc. "Having the opportunity to promote the region through a collaborative approach will help us find new markets we
may not have been able to break into as individual associations."

Atlantic Golf Organization is currently focusing its work in several areas including the development of media familiarization tours (FAMS) and online programs. The FAMS will be held in various locations throughout the Atlantic region and should result in a number of articles written by credible golf and travel writers. These items will then be pitched in major publications in the target markets. A website is being created for the Atlantic region to highlight the overall destination and also provide easy access to each member's website.

The golf course industry in NLFD has been ripping consumers off here for years, particularly in the St. John's area. Courses in Nova Scotia, PEI and NB charge anywhere from 60% to 30 % less than courses here. A simple web search will reveeal that. Many of the adult memberships range in the area of $1000 in those provinces while in St. John's, they range anywhere from $1800 to nearly $3000/yr. Has it every occured to these fools running these local courses that they would likely attract more consumers if they lowered their prices? Now we have ACOA money throwing $$$ at them to fund marketing to drum up their businsess? Outrageous!

The golf course industry in NLFD has been ripping consumers off here for years, particularly in the St. John's area. Courses in Nova Scotia, PEI and NB charge anywhere from 60% to 30 % less than courses here. A simple web search will reveeal that. Many of the adult memberships range in the area of $1000 in those provinces while in St. John's, they range anywhere from $1800 to nearly $3000/yr. Has it every occured to these fools running these local courses that they would likely attract more consumers if they lowered their prices? Now we have ACOA money throwing $$$ at them to fund marketing to drum up their businsess? Outrageous!